Louisville offensive lineman Lukayus McNeil: ‘We’ll move everything’

Louisville has yet to fully answer its offensive line concerns, which largely contributed to the team’s three-game losing streak to end last season. But one possible solution for the Cardinals is moving junior tackle Lukayus McNeil to guard and starting true freshman Mekhi Becton at tackle.

This line combination is hardly written in stone. Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday that the starting lineup for the offensive line had not been determined and that the coaching staff was still trying out multiple combinations.

But McNeil is right in that if he starts at guard next to Becton, then opposing defenses will have a hard time matching up with their size. Both linemen are at least 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds.

This combination also potentially would give Louisville five starting offensive linemen weighing more than 300 pounds.

The Cardinals allowed 47 sacks in 2016, which by far was the most in the ACC and third-most in the nation. Pass protection is, by far, Louisville’s biggest question mark going into 2017.